"e;A dazzling literary debut...a sparkling novel."e; —Dayton Daily News Three women. Three secrets. One summer that changes everything. Anita Kumar was fifteen when shame stole her voice. Pregnant and afraid to disappoint her successful parents, she allowed others to decide her future—and her daughter's. Years later, she buries her grief beneath competence, scanning every child's face for the one she lost. Born into wealth but raised in fear, Ashley Spady escapes a violent home only to find herself trapped in a cycle she doesn't know how to break—until an unexpected diagnosis forces her to confront the truth about herself. Adopted and blessed with an extraordinary memory, Robin Zymanski dreams of becoming a writer. But as questions about her origins deepen and her vision begins to fade, she must decide who she is when the future she imagined slips from view. When their lives converge in the summer of 2009, the three women form an unlikely bond that reshapes their understanding of identity, forgiveness, and belonging. Before We Were Women is a moving multicultural, multigenerational novel of resilience and sisterhood—about confronting the past, reclaiming your voice, and discovering that family can be found in the most unexpected places. Perfect for Readers Who Love:Female friendship that becomes chosen familyFound family in unexpected placesSecond chances at life—and motherhoodAdoption and identity journeysDisability representation (vision loss & assistive tech)Quiet reinvention and personal growthEmotional, character-driven women's fiction Perfect for Book Clubs. Themes Include:Teenage pregnancy and autonomyAdoption and emotional legacyDomestic violence and generational silenceDisability and redefining identityImmigrant expectations and cultural belongingThe meaning of serviceFound family vs. biological familyForgiveness and closureMulticultural and multigenerational conversations "e;Dr. Reddy knows what women think and how they feel about their lives. In her novel, Before We Were Women, she plumbs the depths of myriad feminine emotions. Her novel is a tear-jerker. I loved it. She has done a beautiful job."e; —Vick Mickunas, host of "e;Book Nook"e; on WYSO Public Radio, an NPR affiliate "e;Author's approach to disability is touching...great twists and turns throughout"e; —Dr. Hemant Shah, M.D., FCCP DSM CPEClinical Professor of Medicine, Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine
